Computing-machine.



W. WRIGHT.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

,APPucAnoN FILED JULY 25. 1912. RENEWED JULY 1,216,759.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ns Cm,PNOTD-LI'TH LWASMINGYUN o c 2i i w W. WRIGHT.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY25, 1912. RENEWED JULY 1,19:

1,216,759. PEI-tested Feb. 20,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FIG. 3.

INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER WRIGHT, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD COMPUTINGMACHINE COMPANY, OF NE'W YORK, N .Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMPUTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed July 25, 1912, Serial No. 711,396. Renewed July 7,1916. Serial No. 108,764.

To all whom z't-may concern:

Be itknown that- I, lVAL'rnR VVRIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inComputing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to computing machines, and is illustrated inconnection with a combined typewriting and computing-machine of theUnderwood-Wright type. In said machines, dial or computing wheels aregrouped to form a totalizeryand a shaft carrying an internal masterwheel is arranged to drive said computing wheels scrz'atim by means ofinternal gears. In the form herein illustrated, the computing head isarranged to record-dollars and cents, and an empty space is left in thecomputing head, where a period may be written by the typewritingmechanism.

One object of the present invention is to make it impossible-to attemptto compute a digit in said empty space, whereby the period would betypewritten without disturbing any computing wheel. For this purposepointing off the space between the dimes wheel and the units of dollarswheel is preferably occupied by a partition, which is fixed to the sidesof the totalizer. This partition is preferably arranged to have teethout in it. corresponding to the positions in which the teeth in theadjacent computing wheels will stand when said computing wheels areidle. It will result from this. that when the master wheel is engaged insuch partition, it will be impossible for the master wheel to rotate,and consequently one form of mistake is prevented. lVhile the partitiondoes not prevent the operation of a type bar in some types of machines,yet, if a. digit is written at the pointing-off place, an examination ofthe figures on the worksheet in the typewriter will show that a numberis incorrectly written, because there will be one figure written wherethere should have been a period or blank space. It will, therefore, beseen that an operator can readily trace back errors.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for taking up anyplay in the carry-over mechanism. which is arranged to turn eachcomputing wheel one unit when the'lower adjoining computing wheel turnsits zero past the sight opening. In mechanism of this general type, ifno alining devices were provided, the digit wheel next above the one atthe master wheel would (after a carrying operation) come to rest afterturning slightly less than one digits distance, owing to lost motion inthe carry ing mechanism. The wheel two denominations above the masterwheel would be about twice as much out of alinement. The third wheelwould be still farther away from the reading-line; and so on: in otherwords, the digit wheels would come to rest in a spiral, instead ofcoming to rest all at the reading-line. In order to bring'to thereading-line, or approximately thereto, all the digit wheels abo e themaster wheel, certain of thecomputing wheels are provided with detents.In the preferred form of construction, detents are placed only at everythird or fourth computing wheel. By having them at only a few of thewheels, the computing mechanism is relieved of the strain of operating aseries of wheels when held by many detents, and yet the spiral train isbroken, because each wheel that is provided with a detent is alinedexactly. and those wheels not provided with detents are brought intocloser alinement by virtue of a detent only one or two denominationsaway, than would be the case if the only digit wheel alined exactly werefour or live denominations away. At the same time in the preferred formof mechanism, the carryover mechanism will approximately aline thecomputing wheels irrespective of the detents, so that the numbers onthem will properly appear in front of the sight opening. The detentstake up suflicient of the lost motion to make this approximate aliningpractically perfect. Preferably each computing wheel is normally lockedby its carry-over wheel from the computingwheel below. and is positivelyin mesh with said carry-over wheel. so that by having these detents takeup the lost motion in the gear teeth of the various wheels, there isless danger of the gears, which engage the mas ter wheel seriatim,becoming out of mesh, and, therefore, being stripped by said masterwheel when said master wheel is shifted rapidly from one point ofthetotalizer to another.

The need for these detents is more noticeable when a series of computingwheels tlllflw through zero and carry successively one after the other.here is apt to be a certain amount of lost motion between the Genevalock carry-over units and the com-' puting wheels, especially if partsare loosely fitted, so that if a series of simultaneously successivecarryovers take place, say, from the units computing wheel up throughthe whole series, each computing wheel of higher denomination might lagslightly beyond the one next lower in denomination. which effect will bemultiplied or accumulated so that the highest computing wheel in aconiiputing head -of a great number of computing wheels, might lag halfa space, or even a whole space, beyond the units computing wheel.Theprovision, however, of an alining detent at every third computingwheel insures the justification of every third computing wheel, and thelagging of the next two succeeding computing wheels will not be ofsufficient magnitude to disturb the free passage of the master wheelthrough the computing wheels.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front view of so much of a totalizer, and some adjacentparts as relate to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the same.

A Fig. .4. is a diagrammatic perspective view, showing the arrangementof a computing wheel and its carry-over mechanism.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional and side views of a carry-over wheel,controlled by a detent.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the master wheel.

Fig. 8 is an end view of an alining bar.

Fig. 9 is a. side view of a. computing wheel and its carry-over wheel.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a partition.

Fig. 11 is a section of a coupler.

Fig. 12 is a section showing a coupler and a bar to position it.

Fig. 13 is a sectional View of a loose gear, forming part of thecomputing-wheel.

Fig. 14: is a bottom View showing the carry-over wheels and theirdetents.

The invention is herein disclosed-as applied to a \Vright totalizer 1mounted in frame 2 of a combined typewriting and computing machine,which is arranged to be power-driven by means of a shaft 3. Said shaftthrough a shaft 4 drives a master wheel 5, arranged to engage dial orcomputing wheels 6 serz'atim. The connections between said shaft 3 andthe master wheel shaft 4: include a bevel gear 7 fast on said masterwheel shaft, which constantly is in mesh 9 rotating with said shaft.Said clutch comprises teeth 10 arranged to lock with'teeth (not shown)in either of the bevel gears 8.

The master wheel 5 has an external tooth which is arranged to engagewith internal teeth 7 on said'computing wheels to turn them,- of whichteeth 7 in the embodiment shown, there are ten. Said computing wheelsnormally are arranged to stand in a line, so that said master wheel mayslide through them without abutting against any of the teeth 7. When thepower shaft 3 is turned, it will be seen that the master Wheel will turnthe computing or dial wheel with which it is engaged, and so bring adigit on the face 11 of the dial wheel to view in front of the sightopening of the totalizer 1.

For making a carry-over, i. 6., turning the adjacent computing wheel onedigit higher whenever the first computing wheel turns its zero past thesight opening, there are arranged a series of carry-over wheels 12, oneoperative on and meshing with every dial wheel, except the units wheel.Each carryover wheel comprises broad teeth 13, which are normallyarranged to ride on the surface 11 of the dial wheel next lower indenomination, (see Figs. 4 and 9), so that said carry-over wheel 12 islocked against turning in either direction by two of said teeth 13. Eachdial wheel comprises a ledge 14:, and in the opening formed by saidledge, thin teeth 15 on the carry-over wheel 12 are arranged to normallylie, there being one of said thin teeth 15 between every two of thebroad teeth 13 on the carry-over wheel. lVhen any computing, wheel 6brings its zero opposite the sight opening, a carrying tooth 16extending up from said ledge 11 to the face of wheel 6 is arranged tostrike the thin tooth 15 then riding in the opening formed by said ledge14, and turn said carry-over wheel. To permit said turning said dialwheel has a. recess 17 cut into it, into which the broad tooth 13 of thecarry-over wheel 12 may sink. As said computing wheel completes itsmovement in turning its zero to the sight opening, said broad tooth 13again rises out of the recess 17, and again rides on the surface 11 ofsaid wheel so that said carry-over wheel is, again locked, but in themeantime has been turned through sufficient space to turn the adjacentcomputing wheel one-tenth of a revolution.

Said adjacent computing wheel is not turned directly by said carry-overwheel, but each carryover wheel 12 is provided with teeth 18 whichconstantly mesh with teeth on a loose thin gear wheel 19 forming part ofsaid computing wheel and lying adjacentthe face of the computing wheelwhich is to be operated by this carry-over wheel. Said thin gear carrieson it internal teeth corresponding in number and shape to the internalteeth 7 of the dial wheel, and each of said teeth 20 carries aprojection 21, as seen best in Fig. 4, which projections are allidentical, and are accommodated in corresponding notches in the internalteeth '7 of the computing wheel toward which they project. Since theteeth 20 and the notches in which they lie are all identical, the thingear 19 may revolve independently of its computing wheel, and is guidedthereon by its teeth 20 which slide in the notches in the computingwheel 6. The computing wheel 6, which is seen in Fig. 4, has one suchgear 19 shown against each face of said wheel, one at the left havingits flat face against the computing wheel, while at the upper portion ofsaid figure where said wheel 6 is broken away, is seen the extension 21of the tooth 20 of the other thin gear 19 lying in the cut-away portionof the internal tooth 7. To compel the computing wheel to be turned as aunit by its thin gear 19, there is a series of couplers (see 2, 11 and12), which are arranged to ride idly on the master wheel shaft, and asseen in Fig. 2, each coupler comprises teeth 22, arranged to lie partlybetween the projections 21 of the thin gear 19 of a computing wheel, andpartly between the internal teeth 7 of said computing wheel. Eachcoupler, therefore, will compel its computing wheel and thin gear torotate as a unit. Therefore, since each carry-over wheel is lockedagainst the lower computing wheel against turning in either direction,it will, by means of a coupler and thin gear, lock the upper computingwheel.

It will be noted from Fig. 2, that the inaster wheel 5 has its teeth soshort that they cannot strike the teeth 20 of any of the thin gears 19,and it will also be seen from Fig. 4 that the computing wheels (3 eachhave two :arrying teeth 16 on them so that the computing wheels willoperate the carry-over wheels equally well backward or for\ ard, inother words, said wheels may be used equally well for subtraction oraddition. Each of the carry-over wheels 12 in addition comprises a hub23, and on the hub of every third carry-over wheel are arranged a seriesof depressions 2% into which adete t 25, as best seen in Fig. 3, isnorn'ially pressed by means of a spring 26. These detents, it

will. be seen, positively aline their carryover wheels. by means of theflat sides 27 of the depressions on said carry-' ver wheels. Each ofsaid detents comprises a roller 28 mounted on an arm 29 pivoted on a rod30 of the totalizer, and since the carry-over wheels approximatelya-line the computing wheels irrespective of the said detents, it

will usually be found sufficient to have said detents on every third orfourth carry-over wheel to obtain perfect alinement.

lVhile the carry-over wheels approximately aline the computing wheels,they I are somewhat loosely fitted, so that a certain amount of lostmotion is in evidence. If a series carryover is made, that is, for anumber of computing wheels one right after the other, this lost motionmultiplies and accumulates so that it becomes quite serious for anygreat number of computing wheels. The provision. however, of a detent atevery third or fourth wheel ustifies the position of such wheel, and, toa certain extent, assists in the carryover, so that every third orfourth wheel is accurately positioned. The accun'iulative eflect then ofthe two or three intermediate wheels is not of sufficient magnitude tocause any trouble, so that the digits of the dial wheels will be inpractical alinement, and the master wheel will he capable of passingeasily from one computing wheel to another between the teeth 7. lhisthen gives such accuracy of alincinent as is necessary without burdeningall of the carryover wheels and thus the computing wheels, with the workof overcoming many spring detents, and, in fact, leaves the majority ofthe carry-over wheels and the computing wieels free and untrammeledduring ordinary computing operations, and during a series carryovergives but one-third or onefourth of the burden which would be inevidence if each carry-over wheel were acted upon by a spring detent.

As above stated, the totalizer herein shown is arranged to compute indollars and cents, and there is a blank space left where a periodbetween the dollars and cents should be w itten. To prevent the masterwheel 5 from turning in this space as though it was computing a number,there is provided for said space a locking partition 31,

as seen in Fig. 10, comprising internal teeth the same in number as theinternal teeth on the dial wheels 6. Said partition 31 comprisesextensions 33 through holes 34: in which the rods of the totali ner maypass, and thus hold said partition against movement. This partition thusin effect forms a fixed computing wheel which looks the master wheelagainst. turning in said period space. The carry-over wheel. for turningacross this space may be formed like the other carry-over wheels, exceptas seen in Fig. 2, it comprise a long hub 35 between its teeth 18 andits teeth 13.

Of the couplers 22, sutlicient are provided so that when the masterwheel is at the right of the totalizer, there will be one coupler forevery dial or computing wheel. Each coupler comprises a hub 36, whichmay turn 'dly on the master wheel shaft 4. hen the master wheel isengaged with the units as iv wheel, most or all of these couplers Willlie inside the totalizer. As said master wheel 5 moves relatively to thedial wheel, there will be successively fewer and fewer couplers withinthe totalizer, and those at the left will be supported on an extensionof the master wheel shaft outside of said totalizer. For holding themalined when so outside, there is provided an alining rod 87 fast on aplate 38 on the wall of the totalizer, which rod is arranged to liebetween the teeth of said couplers, as seen in Fig. 12, so that as saidtotalizer slides over them or they slide into it, as the case may be,the teeth of the couplers will slide smoothly between the internal teeth7 of the dial wheels. For holding the dial wheels locked againstmovement when they are at the right of the mas ter wheel there isprovided an alining bar comprising a. [in 39 which rides between theinternal. teeth 7 of the computing wheels and is fast on the fixedsleeve 4-0 surrounding the master wheel shaft-4. This fin 39 thus locksthe dial wheels against rotation in the same manner as bar 37 looks thecouplers against rotation.

11; will thus be s en that the computing mechanism is always held lockedand positively alined, and that this is done with a minimum of springs,and that an exceedingly simple method has been provided for locking themaster wheel against rotation where no computin should be done.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels, and acarryover mechanism for holding each computing wheel locked from thecomputing wheel below. of detents for reducing the spiral effect of saidcomputing wheels occasioned by lost motion in the carry-over mechanism,said detents being less than half as numerous as computing wheels.

2. In a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels, andcarryover wheels constantly in mesh therewith, of de tents on certain ofsaid carry-over wheels for breaking the spiral. train in said computingwheels occasioned by lost motion in the carry-over wheels, said detentsbeing less than half as numerous as carry-over wheels.

The combination with a computing wheel, of a carry-over wheel forming aGeneva. lock therewith, a hub on said carry over wheel, a depression insaid hub, a spring detent working in said hub, and an adjoiningcarry-over wheel practically held alined by a detent on a computingwheel of lower denomination.

t. In a computing machine, the combination with computing Wheels and amaster wheel for turning said computing wheels seriatm, of carry-overdevice for each computing wheel above the units wheel, means forcontrolling said carry-over device from the computing wheel below, anddetaining means holding certain of said carryover devices to keep theircomputing wheels alined; the spiral effect upon the computing wheels,occasioned by lost motion in the carry-over device, being thereby brokenat a plurality of denominations of the computing wheels.

5. In a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels and amaster wheel for turning said computing wheels scriatim, of a carry-overdevice for each computing wheel above the units wheel, means forcontrolling said carry-over device from the computing wheel below,detaining means holding certain of said carry-over devices to keep theircomputing wheels alined; and a partition between two of said computingwheels for preventing the master wheel from turning when between saidcomputing wheels so that said master wheel may pass unobstructedly fromsaid partition into either of said computing wheels on each side thereofand vice versa.

6. In a computing machine, the combination with two computing wheels andcarryover devices for controlling them, of a space equal to a computingwheel between said two computing wheels, a partition occupying saidspace, a master wheel adapted to turn said computing wheels seriatm butlocked against turning by said partition, a detent holding a computingwheel alined on one side of said partition, and a computing wheel on theopposite side of said partition free of a detent but practically alinedindirectly through another comput ing wheel by a detent.

7. In a computing machine, the comhination with computing wheels and amaster wheel for turning them scriatim, of a. gear associated with eachcomputing wheel, a carry-over wheel always in. mesh with said associatedgear, devices for locking each. an sociated gear to its computing wheel,detents for directly alining certain of said carryover wheels but notall of them, and for approximately holding alined each carryover wheelfrom the computing wheel next lower in denomination.

8. A totalizer comprising computation wheels and detents placed only atevery third. or fourth wheel for practically alining all computingwheels, whereby the computation mechanism is relieved of the strain ofoperating a large series of wheels when held by many detents.

9. A. totalizer comprising computation wheels and detents placed only atevery third or fourth wheel, for breaking the spiral effect of thecomputing wheels, whereby the computation mechanism is relieved of thestrain of operating a large series of Wheels when held by many detents;carryover mechanism being provided for computing wheels so as to serveas auxiliaries for the detents; means being pr yided for enabling eachcomputing wheel to be normally locked by its carry-over wheel from thecomputing wheel of next lower denomination; said computing wheel beingpositively in mesh with said carry-over wheel.

10. In a computin machine, the combination with a gang of computingwheels, of carry-over devices tending to hold said computing wheelsalined, and detents for part of the gang of said computing wheels butless than the whole gang for aiming directly and indirectly all saidcomputing each directly on one of the wheels of a group.

13. In a computing machine, the combination with a series of wheels ofdifferent denominations grouped in sections of at least three, and asingle detent serving each group of wheels by acting on one wheel of thegroup.

lei. in a computing machine, the combination with a series of computingwheels, of a series of carry-over units for said com puting wheelshaving a certain amount of lost motion, and alining means for taking upthe lost motion solely at intervals of sev eral wheel-spaces.

15. The combination with a series of computing wheels, of a series oicarry-over wheels for said computing wheels, spring detents arrangedsolely at intervals of se\' eral oi. said carryer wheels, said carryoverwheels cooperating with said eomputing wheels to enable said detents tosumeiently justify all of said computing wheels.

lVALTER WRIUrlrlT.

lVitnesses C. RIPLEY, F. E. ALEXANDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). C. I

